To wish people would stop saying “just put a jumper on”?

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There have been sooo many thread over the years with people saying how no one really needs heating - how e.g. 16 degrees is positively sweltering - and if you feel the cold you should just put a jumper on and a bit of cold never hurt anyone…

This is complete rubbish and I think this myth needs to be debunked. It’s not helpful. Of course many people are being forced to have their heating off but that does not mean this is good for their physical or mental health.

I was prompted to start this thread as I was listening to a radio 4 science programme that tackled this topic head on. In summary:

• when we get really cold (e.g. a room at 10 degrees) our body has to work really hard to keep our core warm and this places great strain on our body - increased heart rate, blood pressure, decreased congnitive ability, etc;

• surprisingly, for a lot of people 23 degrees is the right temperature if you are just sitting around - this does not surprise me as if I am working from home, if I have my thermostat set to 19.5 degrees, I still have to wear ugg slippers and a big jumper;

• getting chilled does make you likely to get sick - this is because we are constantly being exposed to viruses, which we do fight off (the cold virus in particular) but when we get chilled our body’s immune response is severely impaired.

I was a bit gobsmacked about the 23 degrees thing - I WFH so there are sizeable chunks of he day where I am in front of a PC and not moving much but am sluggish and sleepy if the temp goes above about 18 degrees. However, I know I run hot and so I have my study happily at 18 and the rest of the house at 20 so DH and the DC are happy. Over 20 I am miserable so that feels like a decent compromise! Super interesting program though, and long periods of too cold are clearly awful for health.

It’s interesting that so many people struggle over 20 degrees. I mean the vast majority of humankind spends the vast majority of their time over 20 degrees. We evolved in the Rift Valley FFS!

Yeah, exactly this! My teen is always wanting the heating on whilst sitting around in vest and shorts.

The thing is, everyone is different. I’m one of those people who get hot easily - I’m slim and in shape and toned and tend to walk around a lot. I can’t wear a proper coat in this weather as I’d end up sweating once I’ve been power walking. I haven’t put the heating on once yet and am happy to laze around in pj shorts/t shirt.

In my office I’m happy to wear a midi dress without tights and a blazer for example, whereas some of my colleagues are wrapped up for the North Pole. I just don’t feel cold easily, and generally like to feel cooler than warmer

I’m fine with temperatures higher than 20 degrees outside. In fact I used to live in an extremely hot climate and loved it. But artificial heat indoors over around 20 degrees makes me feel all stuffy and headachey. It’s a different type of heat.

@MrsTerryPratchett

Some of us are built for northern Europe

I find about 20-21 is about right if I am wearing a cardigan and uggs, in the summer I'm happiest at about 23c as I haven't got my cardigan on

@WaddleAway

Yes. There's absolutely a difference between natural heat and central heating

People died younger years ago due to lack of nutrition and poor sanitation/health care,, not because they sat in caves/hovels in wooly clothing or bear skins with an inefficient fire.

Theres no need to heat the air around you unless you're literally indoors in around 13 degrees or less or something

People in a house at around 17+ wont be breathing in 'cold' air and will be able to keep warm by wearing the right clothing, using a hot water bottle, throws and heated throws etc.

Personally I don't want to sit in my house dressed in outdoor clothes. I put the heating on if I'm chilly and if necessary I'll cut costs elsewhere.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

Then you're obviously a legend

If you're a healthy, able bodied adult then unless the weather is absolutely freezing, then wrapping up warm is fine. I was very cold yesterday in my kitchen during the day (it's north facing). I was wearing a vest. I didn't put the heating on...I put my dressing gown on and felt fine.

It's being sedentary that is the problem. At the weekend I can happy do housework in a couple of layers and feel fine. During the week sitting at my desk, I have extra layers and a blanket on my knee but my extremities are still cold.

It's not new for it to be cold, whoever was referring to thousands of years ago, but it is new to have to be sedentary for long periods whilst not being able to curl up with all ones limbs under the blanket (or mammoth/sabretooth tiger skin).

Died young learned about fire harnessed the use of fire through chimneys etc developed central heating

Started war

Actually, a hot water bottle permanently on your feet or lap can really help.

Only up to a point, of course.

Do it!
If your DH isn't happy, he can have a blanket and the field shelter.

Does anyone know what temperature this is? I dug it out - old baby (now 19) bedroom thermometer but I don’t understand the number bit. It’s just weird where the lines are!!

16 orc17 degrees?

16 degrees c I think

It looks like 12 degrees C to me.

One thing I really do recommend is putting a YouTube fireplace video on TV.

Holy heck I feel warm watching that. I've had to switch it off. Plus guests have said the same. The psychological effects really seem to work!

How on earth does it look like 12 to you

I live in Cyprus, we don't have air con or central heating anymore, temps here in the summer are 40C+

We usually come back to the U.K. during the winter for a month or 2 (Dec-Feb) and I physically can't cope with central heating anymore, it makes me feel sick, sweaty & dirty.
Give me fluffy blankets for bed and a fireplace downstairs any day.

Artificial heat doesn't agree with me at all.

23 degrees sounds perfect, I'd probably go warmer but I like it obnoxiously warm according to my family. Obviously I do not have the heating set to that, just in an ideal world if heat were free and environmentally friendly (oh I don't know like the sun!). If like me you enjoy being obnoxiously warm but cannot afford it my friend has made a genius little hot water bottle holder backpack arrangement out of fleece. I now wear a hot water bottle once the sun goes down and it is keeping me in the obnoxiously warm conditions that I favour, highly recommended! I'm lucky we can afford the heating for a couple hours a day, I'm sorry for those who can't I really hope this situation doesn't last long.

Out of interest, I've just checked our thermostat (1950s house, double-glazed, heating not been on yet) and it's 16 degrees.
DS and I are in the living room in single layers, with throws and hot water bottles and I am genuinely perfectly comfortable. DS is even in bare feet.
thankfullygivenpriceofgas